Thursday, August 23, 2007

Media Suffering From ADD?

One of the more frustrating aspects of the modern media, is the way in which a story is plastered everywhere one day, virtually non-existent the next. Try to find a fresh story today on the Montebello provocateurs and you will be sadly disappointed. With all the video evidence, particularly clear facial pictures, wouldn't you think that journalists would pursue these "leads" to get to the truth? Surely, there is enough available to dig deeper and find some answers, and yet, judging by the media sites, the story is basically over. The only new development, the NDP is calling for an inquiry:

We are calling on you as Minister to order an immediate inquiry to uncover whether or not agent provocateurs were used at the peaceful protests in Montebello.

If agent provocateurs were present, the public deserves answers to valid questions, including:

Who are the three individuals alleged to be agent provocateurs?

Was the Government of Canada informed that such measures would be used as part of the security detail at the summit?

Were the RCMP or other security forces at the summit, including from the US, privy to the use of such a security tactic?

Who was responsible for providing direction to the agents?

Were the agents directed to use force and/or violent means to disrupt the peaceful protest?

Finally, if agent provocateurs were used, what was the expected outcome in deliberately trying to destabilize a democratic protest in Canada?

We believe these are critical questions that cannot go ignored - questions that concern the relationship between state security forces and the potential infringement of democratic rights to peaceful assembly protest and to freedom of expression. As Dave Coles, President of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union said “in a free and democratic society, people have the right to peacefully protest something they don't like.”

The Liberals have asked the same, although less formally, but for real pressure to occur the media has to keep this story on the frontburner. I guess Lindsay Lohen's DUI plea takes precedence over fundamental rights, in a democratic society, not to mention security forces endangering people for apparent political purposes. Priorities, I understand completely.

UPDATE

I stand corrected, CBC and CTV both had items on their newscasts tonight, in the face of the police admissions.